Monitoring and control of administration systems

Abstract

The present invention allows administrators of conference equipment, remotely localized from the ordinary managing interface, to execute simple commands for solving a problem that may have occurred during a conference or at conference set up. This is provided by a parser translating user terminal commands transmitted from the user terminal (e.g. a cellular phone) of the system administrator to Conference Management System codes, which are executed on the conference equipment in question from the Conference Management System. The present invention also allows system administrators to be alerted by a message (e.g. SMS) at any errors occurring during a conference or conference set up, and to correct the errors by responding to the alert without the need of addressing the equipment in which the errors occur

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to managing, controlling and scheduling videoconferences. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Conventional videoconferencing systems comprise a number of end-points communicating real-time video, audio and / or data streams over and between various networks such as WAN, LAN and circuit switched networks. [0003] A number of videoconference systems residing at different sites may participate in the same conference, most often, through one or more MCU's (Multipoint Control Unit) performing i.a. switching functions to allow the audiovisual terminals to intercommunicate properly. [0004] As videoconferencing involves various recourses and equipment simultaneously interoperating at different localizations and capabilities, there is a need for the possibility to manage the resources involved both for scheduled and ad hoc videoconferences. The wording schedule or scheduler shall also be understood as including setting up ad-hoc meeting...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system avoiding the above described problems.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, configuring, scheduling and establishing a video call is a complex process beyond the expertise of many users of video devices.

For instance, manufacturers of video devices typically include unique interfaces accessed through video endpoints that are complex and difficult to use.

Assuming that a user is able to successfully interact with a video end point user interface, other complexities remain as an obstacle to a successful video call configuration.

As video call technology advances, the scheduling of devices has grown more complex.

A variety of errors may occur at start up and during a conference, which may require assistance from technical staff.

It is unreasonable to expect expertise to be available at any start up or at any time during a conference.

Nevertheless, the lack of qualified technical personnel results in many cancelled meetings, quite simply because the problem seems to be unsolvable for the participants, even though a simple command may have connected or proceeded a cancelled or interrupted conference.

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